Buying
Buying from abroad: powers of attorney, transfers and signing remotely
In short: you can buy property in Lombok without being present at every step. The deed is signed in front of an Indonesian notary, either by you on a visit or by someone you appoint under a specific power of attorney, signed at home, apostilled and translated. The price may be quoted in US dollars, but payments made in Indonesia must be in rupiah, so your transfer is converted on arrival; route it to the notary's escrow or the account named in the deed, never to an individual. Plan one in-person visit before you commit; everything else can be done remotely.
Most of our buyers live in Australia, the UK, North America or elsewhere in Asia. This guide shows how a remote purchase works in practice, step by step, and the safeguards that matter most when you cannot be in the room.
The process, step by step
- Shortlist and live video viewings. We walk plots and villas on live video, showing access roads, views at different times of day and neighbouring land.
- One visit before committing. We strongly recommend seeing the property once in person. Many buyers combine it with meeting the notary and opening a bank account.
- Due diligence. The notary and, ideally, your own lawyer run the checks in our 12-point checklist. You receive the results by email.
- Reservation agreement. A short written agreement fixes the price and timetable, with a deposit held by the notary and refundable if due diligence fails.
- Power of attorney, if you will not be present for signing (see below).
- Payment into the notary's escrow or the account named in the deed.
- Signing before the notary, by you or your attorney.
- Registration and handover. For title transfers, the notary registers the change at the land office. You receive scanned copies at once, and originals or electronic certificates afterwards.
From reservation to signing typically takes four to eight weeks for a clean title.
The power of attorney
A power of attorney (POA) lets someone you trust, often a lawyer, sign for you in Lombok.
Make it specific. The POA should name the property, the certificate number, the transaction (lease, purchase, company share subscription), the agreed price and the documents your attorney may sign. Indonesian law requires explicit wording for any act of transfer.
Never sign an "absolute" power of attorney. An irrevocable power of attorney that effectively hands over control of land (kuasa mutlak) cannot be used for land transfers: Government Regulation 24/1997 bars land notaries from drawing up deeds based on one, and Indonesian courts have repeatedly declared such arrangements invalid (Supreme Court news service). Anyone asking you for one is a red flag. Your POA should be limited to the transaction and revocable.
Sign it before a notary at home, then get an apostille. Indonesia joined the Apostille Convention on 4 June 2022, so a document apostilled in another member country no longer needs embassy legalisation (Allen & Gledhill). Australia, the UK, the US and Canada all issue apostilles. Ask the Indonesian notary in advance for the exact wording and format they will accept.
Have it translated. A sworn translator in Indonesia translates the POA into Indonesian. Build in a week for courier and translation.
Paying from abroad
Rupiah is the legal currency for payments in Indonesia. Law 7/2011 on Currency requires rupiah for payments made within Indonesia, with limited exceptions such as international trade, and breaches are a criminal offence (Hukumonline). Properties are often advertised in US dollars for convenience, but the deed states a rupiah price, and payment arrives in rupiah. Your transfer is converted either by your bank before sending or by the receiving bank on arrival.
Manage the exchange rate. Agree in writing which rate applies if the price was negotiated in dollars, and when. A multi-currency account or a currency specialist usually beats a high-street bank's rate.
Pay only to the right account. Payments should go to the notary's escrow account or the account named in the signed agreement or deed. Never to an agent's or a relative's personal account.
Beware of payment scams. Fraudsters impersonate notaries and agents with emails announcing "new bank details". Confirm any account number by phone or video call with the notary, using a number you already have, before every transfer.
Keep the paperwork. Your bank will ask for the reservation agreement and the notary's invoice to explain the transfer, and you will need transfer records for your tax return at home.
Signing
Notarial deeds in Indonesia are read out and signed in the notary's physical presence. A video call can help you follow the meeting, but in most cases it cannot replace a signature in the room. So either:
- You sign in person, on a visit timed for the signing; or
- Your attorney signs under the POA, and the notary sends you scanned copies the same day.
Ask for a draft of every deed in English and Indonesian at least a week before signing, and have your lawyer review it. The Indonesian text normally prevails.
Safeguards when you cannot be in the room
- Due diligence results received in writing before any deposit
- Deposit held by the notary, refundable if checks fail
- POA specific to this transaction, revocable, apostilled and translated
- Account details confirmed by phone with the notary before each transfer
- Payments only against signed documents
- Draft deeds reviewed by your own lawyer
- Scanned copies of signed deeds received the same day; originals tracked
We can coordinate a remote purchase from first viewing to handover. Ask us how it would work for you.
FAQ
Can my agent be my attorney?
You can appoint anyone, but an independent lawyer is safer: your attorney should have no interest in the sale.
Can I sign the POA at the Indonesian embassy instead?
Often yes, and some notaries prefer it. Ask the notary which they accept before you sign anything.
Do I need an Indonesian bank account to buy?
No. You can pay by international transfer. An account becomes useful later for running costs.
How long does an apostille take?
It varies by country, from same-day services to a few weeks. Check your government's apostille office.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Have your documents prepared and checked by a notary and an Indonesian lawyer. See our investment disclaimer.